Good by Celebrity, and hello NCL.

[Sail Girl]

Interesting that the OP is contrasting Celebrity and NCL.
Most of our cruises have been on these two lines.
NCL was great for us when we were younger. It was our first and only cruise line for many years. It was affordable and had a program called Dive In which had a staff that taught snorkeling and went along on snorkeling trips.
We eventually tried other lines - Princess, HAL and now defunct Dolphin.
But when we booked the Celebrity Infinity to Alaska more than10 years ago, we were hooked!!
Why have we switched from NCL to X?
We love the T pool and heated indoor pool on S class.
We love the non-smoking policy.
We love the ambiance.
We love the service.
We love the Elite perks.
We love Blu now that it is part of the X dining experience.

However, we still occasionally cruise on NCL as it is our DS's preferred line.
In fact, we were on the Dawn in March. Unlike some other posters, we did not find the food in the MDR to be bad. In fact,we were surprised at how good it was. Neither we nor the two couples we were with felt the need to eat at any of the specialty restaurants.
The cruise was fine. But as one of our friends (who was introduced to X by us last year) said: "It isn't Celebrity".

IMO the lines are different. We prefer X. The OP apparently had a poor experience on X and prefers NCL. Some prefer Princess; some HAL, etc.

Glad the OP has found his preferred line.

[hughdm]

There are enough cruise lines out there that there is something for everyone. It sounds like OP found his/her best fit. We thought Princess was optimum for us, but it turns out that we like some aspects of Celebrity better. No MUTS, the smoking policy is more restrictive, which DW loves. I can smoke my cigars but only in one area, the food is a LITTLE better. Princess still does Alaska best for us, but in general, Celebrity is OUR best fit for now.

[kitty9]

I've been very fortunate to have cruised nearly every line out there, and firmly believe that it's best to try different ships and experiences. For me, NCL comes in second to last, with Costa being last, to every other line. It's obvious that different lines provide what individuals need/require for their cruising pleasure, but for me, NCL falls far short in every category. While I will admit that certain aspects of Celebrity's cost cutting has left me concerned as to my future cruises, I've not found another mass market line that fits my preferences. I tried HAL recently, desperately wanting to love that line, but unfortunately, HAL was a major disappointment for many reasons.

One thing I have learned is, the seas aren't always bluer on other cruise ships.

[blueboro]

[B][I]"...If they have not had cutbacks similar to X they might better than X at this point."[/I][/B]
[B][/B]
[B][/B]
[SIZE=3]Actually, all of the HAL regulars are concerned about the severe cutbacks there. And, after last week's less than projected financial news on Carnival Corp, they are now even more concerned about additional cuts.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]

[Jayneykul]

We have just come back from Equinox med in Aqua. We wouldnt hesitate going on another Celebrity but have to say would seriously think whether its worth the extra money to go in Aqua over and above MDR on Cunard as we thought the food in Blu was very hit and miss whereas the MDR on QV was exceptionally good for a lot less money. We had issues with the cleanliness of the stateroom as well which werent responded to (things like toe nail clippings on the balcony someone elses medication left under the bed etc)
However, we would not go back on NCL or MSC even if the suites were the same price as an inside on Celebrity or Cunard. We would go back on RCCL if we preferred the itinerary to Celebrity or Cunard

[brazilgirl]

[quote name='jocelysue']Question of curiosity: Why do people rarely compare Celelbrity to HAL?

As for us, although we have cruised on Cunard, Princess, RCI & HAL, we have cruised on HAL most frequently simply because they have full baths in outside staterooms which we find useful when we cruise for more than 15 days at a time. We have never cruised NCL nor Carnival because we tend to enjoy a modicum of formality but we have contributed to our children's sailing on these lines and even encouraged them to use them because we believed they would be a better fit for kids and adolescents. Apparently, we weren't wrong because both our children and grandchildren enjoyed them very much with the exception that they found the kids'menus were dumbed down too much (mac & cheese, chicken fingers, hot dogs, hamburgers...,mostly) so ended up bringing even the youngsters to dine with them in the MDR. But they loved the ambience clubs and were very pleased.

This is the first time DH & I will be trying Celebrity ( the drinks package hooked us & we're only on a 15 nighter) but we're going with an open mind & fully intend to enjoy ourselves. We'll be cruising after all.

We know ahead of time there is no afternoon tea in the MDR; there are no cloth facecloths in the public bathrooms rooms ; rarely are clerypeople on board; there are no frsh flowers on the tables in eithther the MDR or or the Lido. However, apparently the service on X is wonderful , there is a sushi bar and a martini bar to die & there are frequent good guest speakers.

And as many of you have implied : don't get stuck in a rut but be open and available for new experiences. So we sure will enjoy trying out something new. Still we cannot help but wonder why there seems to be so little crossover between X and HAL. Are the passengers different types of people? Will we fit in?[/QUOTE]

I have sailed on Celebrity , RCCL , Carnival and just came back from our first HAL cruise. Have booked our next cruise on HAL . I love HAL and Celebrity and will consider them my lines of choice. I prefer more "elegance" than glitz and I like more quiet environments ... My kids loved both lines as well.

[aikensbest]

[quote name='jackdiamond']IInterestingly, I spoke to a neighbor today, who was on the same cruise; and, she was very displeased. She stated, that with the exception of a few desserts the food was the worst she had ever eaten on any cruise ship. Basically, she stated that the experience was not as good as her Carnival cruises. She also added that it was not even close to Azamara.[/quote]
The price paid is also not close to Azamara. As to comparing to Carnival, I would have to ask your neighbors age and what she/they want from a cruise. I tried Carnival once..never again!

[jackdiamond]

[quote name='aikensbest']The price paid is also not close to Azamara. As to comparing to Carnival, I would have to ask your neighbors age and what she/they want from a cruise. I tried Carnival once..never again![/quote]
She is medicare age; and, I do not believe that she still sails on Carnival.

[ariawoman]

[quote name='BJC'][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]For those of you who took seriously the concerns raised in my previous post about what we believed to be a downward trend in the quality of service, and especially the lack of response from Celebrity to my concerns as sent to them, about the quality of the food and overall appearance of the Celebrity Constellation and other problems, on our June Baltic Cruise, and suggestions that we should try another cruise line, so we did, and so it is, good by Celebrity, and hello NCL.[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Well we have just returned from a cruise up the East Coast, from NY to Halifax and back, on the Norwegian Gem and we would have to say it was wonderful, the ship is bright and vibrant, the Crew are wonderful, the food is good and the service is excellent, it was just like Celebrity was 10 year[I]s[/I] ago.[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]I know that I will be hounded again by those in blinkers who only see cruise ships with a white cross on a blue background, but frankly I don’t give a dam, so now we will cruise on and try other cruise lines such as the more traditionalists like Cunard, P&O and others.[/FONT][/SIZE][/quote]

I'm surprised you found the food to be good, unless you ate in specialty all the time. I did a ship tour and had really bad steak. Dessert was ok. Had friends on the 8/30 sailing and they didn't have much good to say about the food either.

I'm all for trying out different lines and finding one that suits yourself. Hopefully, you have found yours.

[ariawoman]

[quote name='jd1966']Although we only have one cruise on HAL, we found it to be very similar to X in every way![/quote]

I have to agree from my sailings too. I loved both HAL and X, though I like the smoking policy on X better (though that will be changing i believe on the HAL side).

[Shaco]

[quote name='jd1966']Although we only have one cruise on HAL, we found it to be very similar to X in every way![/QUOTE]

Similar, yes. Except we don't get chased off our balcony on X by the smoker next door!

[C 2 C]

[quote name='Shaco']Similar, yes. Except we don't get chased off our balcony on X by the smoker next door![/QUOTE]

Not according to policy but it still happened on our Reflection cruise this year in February. Despite calls to guest relations a number of passengers continued to smoke in AQ cabins upwind from ours.

[Chunky2219]

Perception and taste is such a subjective thing and sometimes the memory doesn't serve very well about how good things were. Our first ever cruise, in the Carribean was 15 years ago with Carnival and teenage kids. American standards of service, fantastic food - for many years I recommended Carnival and it came as something of a shock to find that they are only mid-market, pile it high, fun ships.

Over on the Cunard part of the forum you will find a constant stream of lament that things have slipped badly since the days of QE2 and how wonderful it was looking out of a port hole instead of having a balcony. Worse, two of the three boats in the fleet are only cruise ships, little better than Costa and they ought to have been proper ocean liners doing the Atlantic run. It's tosh. No-one thinks to mention that in the QE2 days the relative prices were massively higher, and most folks (including me) couldn't even think about a cruise. Sorry, a voyage. Cunard didn't used to cruise.

I suspect that standards and quality have indeed slipped throughout the industry over the years. Affordability has improved by a much bigger margin. You now get a balcony, not a port hole, better appointed cabins, better entertainment and venues. You also now get a much bigger choice and can spend to trade up if you have the urge.

I would have never thought that NCL was a food and service step up from Celebrity, but you live and learn. Maybe we'll try them one day.


.

[Shaco]

[quote name='~Cruisenut~']Not according to policy but it still happened on our Reflection cruise this year in February. Despite calls to guest relations a number of passengers continued to smoke in AQ cabins upwind from ours.[/QUOTE]

That is really awful. We did have a smoker a few cruises ago. One call to guest services did the trick. Did you try calling security?

Shaco

[Miss SeaBee]

I don't know...when I hear "vibrant decor," "lively atmosphere," and a "great deal," I instantly think tacky, loud, and cheap. I don't necessary feel any obligation to be "loyal" to Celebrity, it is just the environment that I found I loved very much. The reports I have heard of more "lively" cruise lines, along with my observations of the cruise ships and their passengers when docked next to us in port, give me plenty of incentive to stay where I'm happy.

I am always sorry to hear when someone doesn't like the Celebrity product, because I just can't fathom why, but I am glad that these people, who were so obviously not in an environment where they belonged, have found happier lodgings at sea! :)

[IJustWantToGo36]

It is possible OPs biggest complaint is "lack of response" from X

If that is the case, then comparisons are irrelevant.

This is a case where corporate relations lost a customer. This is becoming very common for cruise lines.

[puppyluv1]

Speaking just for me and my family we have enjoyed trying different cruise lines over the years as our circumstances have changed. Had some wonderful cruises on Carnival in an outside cabin with 4 in a room when the kids were young and we traveling with a large group of friends (we still reminisce about funny stories from those vacations). We eventually started traveling without the kids and booking suites. A few years ago we decided to try a European cruise with an all inclusive experience on Regent and absolutely loved it.

We haven't been on Celebrity for many years, but they offer some nice programs that allow you to have close to an all inclusive experience so we are taking a Caribbean cruise in a few weeks in a CS with Select Dining and premium drink packages.

There are so many personal factors that go into vacation planning and prior experience is pretty high on the list. I would encourage everyone to really think about what you want out of each vacation, even if that means trying something new!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We've sailed a few lines and found each to have their own strengths and shortcomings.

Even knowing what to typically expect on any given line, we're occasionally surprised - both positive and negative.

The biggest plus for Celebrity, IMO, is the smoke free casino. The biggest drawback is simply that they don't have a 12 month presence in Florida. At this point in our cruising career it's simply much more efficient (time being the biggest factor) to sail from "home"!

Looking forward to Royal bringing in either the Anthem or Oasis class ship to Port Canaveral in the next couple of years. Time will tell! I'd also like to see NCL base something out of here. Of course what I'd like, and what actually transpires may have nothing in common!

Tom